On today’s show, host Allen Ruff speaks with Nancy J. Altman about the status of Social Security under the Trump administration. As the program enters its 90th year, Altman reflects on how it was created during the Great Depression but was meant to provide basic economic security (not dependent on wages) even in times of prosperity. Now, the program serves over 70 million people.  

Altman has written about how Elon Musk and DOGE are trying to undermine the program by appealing to an old playbook of lies and misinformation. Contrary to false claims that the program is riddled with fraud and inefficiency, Altman describes how over 99% of the program’s revenue is turned over to beneficiaries and how 99.7% of benefits are paid accurately and on time. But DOGE is creating the conditions for waste, fraud, and abuse as they cut staff and close field offices across the country. 

Altman says the American people aren’t polarized over Social Security. If anything, people agree that benefits should be expanded. Yet a small group of very wealthy people despise the system and they’re donating to politicians who are choosing the interests of their donors over the concerns of their constituents. Meanwhile, immigrants are paying into Social Security, and some will never be able to receive benefits. 

Nancy J. Altman has a fifty-year background in the areas of Social Security, Medicare, private pensions, and related programs. She is president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition.

Featured image: a Social Security card via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).

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